Drop-target.



JOHAN AUGUST WIBORGH, OF STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN.

DROP-TARGET.

Specication of Letters Patent.

PatentedAJan. 28, 1908.

Application filed January 25. 1907. Serial No. 353.986-

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHAN AUGUST W1- BORGH, a subject of the King ofSweden, and resident of Stockholm, Sweden, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Drop-Targets, of which the following is a specification,reference being had to the drawing accompanying and forming a parthereof. A

This invention relates to drop targets.

Targets arranged to drop when hit by a shot are known in Various formsgenerally based on the principle that the shot hitting the targetimparts to the latter, by impact on the same, a movement suflicient torelease a detent normally retaining the target in operative position. Infiring at such targets with the modern rifles of small caliber it has,however, been -found that the targets are only exceptionally dropped byhits, due to the fact that the movement which a shot from a modern riiieis capable of imparting to the target is, in most cases, too small torelease the detent. Moreover, the said targets have the drawback thatthey will be dropped byslight puffs of wind, which obviously entailsinconveniences.

rIhe object of the invention is to obviate the said inconveniences andprovide a drop target which is safe and reliable in action.

The invention consists, chieiiy, in that the target proper is madehollow and actuated by a movable member, such as a diaphragm, a piston,or the like, operated by high or low pressure (vacuum), respectively,prevailing Within the target proper, said movable member, beingconnected with a trap, or detent, normally retaining the target properin operative position, whereas, when the high or low pressure,respectively, within the target proper is destroyed by a shot passingtherethrough, the trap, or detent, is released and the target properdrops under the inluence of gravity or other power, such as that exertedby a spring, or the like.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical section and partial elevation ofa drop target embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section ofthe same on line ac-x of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, the figure representation or target proper1,'which may be made of, for instance, paper pulp or other suitablematerial, is shown Jfastened by means of suitable adhesive into a frame2 ed in bearings 4 on a foot plate 5 in such a manner as to be able toturn about its longi' tudinal axis. Situated in the bottom 6 of the`figure representation 1 is an opening (or more) coinciding with acorresponding opening 7 (or openings) in the wall of the tube 3 by whichthe cavity of the gure representation communicates with the interior ofthe tube 3. Placed in the said tube, which is air-tightly closed at oneend, is a piston 8 adapted to slide within the tube, Without allowingair to pass between the piston and the inner wall of the said tube, saidpiston being connected to a rod 10 extending through a cover 9 fromwithin the\ tube 3.

Situated at the outer end of the rod l() is a head or cross pieceyll orthe like, adapted to be engaged by a catch 12, or the like, attached tothe foot plate, by which the piston 8 can be releasably held in positionagainst the action of a spring 13 interposed between the cover 9 and thepiston 8 while a part of the target proper penetrated by a bullet isrepaired in the ordinary manner by attaching pieces of paper, or thelike, to the target proper by means of a suitable adhesive, such asglue, or paste. In the embodiment illus'- trated the igurerepresentation or target proper 1 is held in upright position by an arm14 projecting from the tube 3, said arm being engaged by a rod 15adapted to be moved in its longitudinal direction. The rod 15 ispivotally attached to the one arm of a double-armed lever 17 mounted ona pivot v16, the other arm of svaid lever being actuated by a pin or lug18 projecting from the rod 10, when the piston 8 moves toward the closedend of the tube 3 in the manner to be described.

The described arrangement is used and works in the following manner.Supposing the parts to take up the positions illustrated and the catch12 to be withdrawn from engagement with the head 11 of the rod 10, thepiston 8 moves inwardly under the action of the spring 13, therebycompressing the air within the tube and the target proper. When thepressure within the said parts balances the pressure exerted by thespring 13, the piston 8 ceases to move, the arrangement being such thatthe pin 18 does not actuate the lever 17 during this primary movement ofthe piston. The target proper thus remains locked by the rod 15 in itsnormal position of situated on a tube 3, said tube being mountrest andis now ready for use. If a bullet, o1:

missile, penetrates the target proper, the air' pressure within thelatter is destroyed,.and the piston moves further inwardly under theaction of the spring 13, whereby the pin 18 turns the lever 17 so thatthe rod 15 is thrown out of engagement with the arm 14. The targetproper 1, which in its normal position of rest has its center of gravitysomewhat at the side of the longitudinal axis of the tube, thenimmediately drops. For dropping the target a spring or springs mightalso be used, if desired.

The embodiment illustrated can obviously be modified in several wayswithout departingfrom the spirit and scope of my invention. This isespecially the case as far as the piston is concerned, which may bereplaced by another movable member, such as a diaphragm, or the like.rPhe air pressure within the target proper may be higher or lower thanthat of y't e atmosphere, as also is the case of a vacuum existingwithin the target the piston, or the diaphragm, or the like, may becaused to move, when the target is hit and the air enters the interiorthereof through the holes made by the shot.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In a drop target, the combination of ahollow, air tight, penetrable ligure representation, in the interior ofwhich, normally, `a pressure is prevailing differing from that of theatmosphere, a detent adapted to engage the figure representation tonormally prevent 'it from dropping, and means, controlled by variationof pressure within the figure representation, for releasing the detent,when the figure representation is penetrated by a hit, substantially asand for the purpose set forth. I

2.1n a dro target, the combination of a hollow, air-tig it, penetrableligure representation in the interior of which, normally, a

pressure is prevailing differing from that of the atmosphere, a cylindercommunicating with the interior of the said gure representation, aspring-actuated member mounted within the said cylinder in such a manneras to move, when the pressure within the figure representation ischanged by a shot penetrating1 the same, a detent adapted to enage t efigure representation and, thereby, ree the latter in its normalposition of rest, an connections between the piston and the detent forreleasing the figure representation, when the piston is moved,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a drop target, the combination of a cylinder forming an extendedtube, bearings for the said cylinder, a hollow, air-tight penetrablefigure representation attached to the-said cylinder and communicatingwith the interior thereof, means for creating withinthe hollow figurerepresentation and the the pressure within the figure representation andthe part of the cylinder communicating therewith is changed, a detentadapted to engage the figure representation and, thereby, normallyprevent the latter from dropping, and connections between the piston andthe detent for releasing the figure -representation, when the latter ispenetrated by a hit, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a drop target, the combination of a cylinder forming an extendedtube, bearings for the same, a frame projecting from the wall of thecylinder, a hollow, air-tight, pene-V trable figure representationinserted into the said frame and communicating with the interior of thecylinder, means for creating within the hollow figure representation andthe cylinder a pressure differing from that of the atmosphere, a membermounted within the cylinder in such a manner as to move, when thepressure within the figure representation and the part of the cylindercommunicating therewith is changed, a detent adapted to engage thefigure representation and, thereby, normally prevent the latter fromdropping, and connections between the piston and the detent forreleasing the figure representation, whenthe latter is enetrated by ahit, substantially as and for t ie purpose set forth.

5. In a'drop target, the combination of a cylinder forming an extendedtube, bearingsI for the same, a frame projecting from the wall of thecylinder, a hollow, air-tight, penetrable ligure representation insertedinto the said frame and fastened thereto by a suitable adhesive, saidfigure representation communicating through openings with the interiorof the cylinder, means for creating within the hollow figurerepresentation and theA cylinder a pressure diifering from that of theatmosphere, a member mounted withinv the cylinder in such a manner as tomove, when the pressure within the ligure representation and the part ofthe cylinder communicating therewith is changed, a detent adapted toengage the ligure representation and, thereby, normally prevent thelatter` from dropping, and connections between the piston and the detentfor releasing the figure representation, when the latter is penetratedby a hit, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a drop target, the combination of a cylinder forming an extendedtube, bearings .for the same, a frame projecting from the move, when thepressure Within the figure representation and the part of the cylindercommunicating therewith is changed, a Catch for the piston to keep thesame in an inoperative position during repair of the ligurerepresentation, means for creating Within the hollow figurerepresentation and the part of the Cylinder' communicating there- With apressure diii'eringl from that of the atmosphere, a detent adapted toengage the 'figure representation and, thereby, normally prevent thelatter from dropping, and conneetions between the piston and the detentfor releasing the yfigure representation, When the latter is penetratedby a hit, substan- 15 tially as and for the pur ose set forth.

In testimony 'Whereo I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

JOHAN AUGUST WIBORGH.

Witnesses:

L. ETEMAN, A. HAMMARSTRM.

